Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV, Part 91

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Clement, E. H. (Edward Henry), 1843- joint ed. cn; Hart, Samuel, 1845-1917, joint ed; Talcott, Mary Kingsbury, 1847-1917, joint ed; Bostwick, Frederick, 1852- , joint ed; Stearns, Ezra Scollay, 1838-1915, joint ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1178

USA > Connecticut > Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV > Part 91

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was captain of the Simsbury company. Chil- dren, born at Simsbury: Daughter, born and died April 19, 1819: Isaac Whiting, May 8, 1820, lived at Forsyth, Georgia ; Martha Abi- gail, February 1, 1822, married Captain Lu- cius Goodrich, of Simsbury; Moses David, August 23, 1824; Sabra Thankful, August 18, 1826, married Chester Seymour of ITart- ford: Nathan Raleigh, May 27, 1832, lived in Georgia, was a sollier in the Confederate army ; Ralph Hart, mentioned below.

(VII) Ralph Hart, son of Moses (2) En- sign, was born at Simsbury, Connecticut, No- vember 3. 1834. He attended the Hop Meadow district school in early youth, and afterward was a student in the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield. Connecticut. and at the Wilbraham Academy at Wilbra- ham, Massachusetts. His youth was spent on his father's farm in the house now occupied by George G. Eno. From 1856 to 1863 he was employed in various lines of business. When he was twenty-one he went to Suffield and was employed by Samuel Austin, a cigar manufacturer, as assistant foreman. For a short time he lived in Georgia with his elder brothers, who were in business there. He was a clerk in Tariffville for a time, and a merchant there on his own account for a short time. In August, 1863, he entered the employ of Toy, Bickford & Company, fuse manu- facturers, at Simsbury, and was admitted to the firm in IS70. In 1887, when the firm was reor- ganized he became manager and the name be- came Ensign. Bickford & Company. When the business was incorporated as the Ensign-Bick- ford Company in 1907. he became its president and has continued at the head of the concern to the present time. This company is the largest manufacturer of blasting fuses, and is interested in a plant in Brooklyn, Alameda county, California. Its product is shipped to all parts of the world. Mr. Ensign is a direc- tor of the Hartford National Bank, the Na- tional Fire Insurance Company and the Ar- lington Company of New Jersey. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1876 represented the town in the general assembly. He is a mem- ber of Simsbury Lodge of Free Masons, of the Hartford Club. and the Hartford Golf Club. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife and family are communi- cants.

He married, July 21, 1863. Susan Toy. who was born in Camborne, Cornwall, in the Uni- ted Kingdom, June 3. 1838, daughter of Jo- seph and Jane (Osler) Toy. She came to this country with her parents when she was a child. and was educated in the Simsbury schools. Her sister, Mary H. Toy, married

J. W. Dodge; Anne J. Toy married L. S. Ellsworth; Julia O. Toy married Rev. C. II. Buck, and her brother, George B. D. Toy, married Mary F. Seymour. Children of Ralph Hart Ensign: 1. Sarah Isabel, born De- cember 19, 1864; dicd January 25, 1809. 2. Joseph Ralph, born November 24, 1869, men- tioned below. 3. Susan Alice, born Septem- ber 7, 1873; educated at Miss Porter's School, Farmington; married Rev. W. 1. Morse ; daughter, Susan Toy Morse, born July 4. 1905. 4. Julia Whiting, born October 3, 1878; edu- cated in Miss Porter's school : married Roh- ert Darling ; son, Robert Ensign Darling.

(VIH) Joseph Ralph. son of Ralph Hart Ensign, was born November 24, 1869. He attended the public schools, and was gradua- ted from the Hartford public high school in 1885, and from Yale College in the class of 1889. He received the degree of Master of Arts in 1891. He is a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and Phi Beta Kapa. He is in business with his father in the Ensign- Bickford Company, and is a member of the general assembly of 1911. He married, April 5, 1894, Mary J. Phelps, who was born at Simsbury, November 13. 1865, youngest daughter of Jeffery O. and Jane ( Humphrey) Phelps. She was educated at Miss Haines' school. Woodside, Hartford, and at Miss An- nie Brown's School, Fifth Avenue, New York City. They have one child, Mary Phelps, born February 9. 1902.

(The Whiting Line).

(VIII) Elijah Whiting, son of Allyn Whit- ing (q.v.) was born June 27, 1769. Ehjab died at Simsbury, October 3, 1840. He mar- ried ( first). November, 1793. Sabra Hart, bort September II, 1773, died at Simsbury, July 18, 1821. Ile married (second ) November 5, 1822, Eunice Buell, born September 3. 1790. and died at Southington, Connecticut, August II, ISSI. Children by first wife: Elijah. born January 1I, 1795 : Martha Tuller, January 12, 1797, died January 15, 1853, married Moses Ensign (see Ensign) ; Pamelia, February 7, 1799: Sabra, born June 19, 1801, died De- cember 9, 1821 ; John, born December 11. 1803 ; Ephraim, April 30, 1807, lied September 22, 1846: Niles, January 13, 1812, died October 13. 1854. Children of second wife: Eunice Lucinda, August 21, 1824: Charlotte Ann. De- cember 23. 1825: Solomon Ervine, January 29, 1828.

(XI) Abiah Carpenter,

CARPENTER son of William Carpen- ter (X, q.v.), was born in Weymouth, April 9, 1643. The "New Eng-

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land Register" refers to "Abia daughter, and Abraham son, born Feb. 9, 1643, children of William Carpenter." William Carpenter had a son and daughter as stated. and Abiah's name sometimes appears as Abijah, always as a son and not a daughter. Probably the name Abraham was given wrongly, instead of Abi- gail, in that record. In William Carpenter's will Abigail's name comes after Abiah's, and the conclusion must be that they were twins. Abiah probably married about 1659, as his son Abiah was admitted a freeman of Rhode Is- land in 1681. Hle very likely married ( sec- ond) a sister of Ann Wickes, who was second wife of Joseph Carpenter, of Mosquito Cove, Long Island. No record of his marriage has been found on the records of the Providence Plantations. Abiah received from his fa- ther's will the larger half of real estate at Pawtuxet, including the house lot on the land where he settled. The other part was left to Hannah. Abiah Carpenter was about sixteen years old when his father died, and he chose the mariner's life. This may have been the reason that his father left him the "History of the World" in his will. In 1669 Abiah and his wife were appointed guardians to Mary, daughter of William and Mary Baker, for which Abiah agreed to give Mary a cow calf in one year, the calf to be one year old. In 1669 he took a receipt of William Baker and his wife Mary for a yearling heifer. At a court martial which sat at Newport to try cer- tain Indians charged with being engaged in King Philip's designs, he testified that Wenan- aquabin, who had been living with him, left hini some time in May. 1675. and he did not see or hear from him until toward winter. The Indian was charged with being at the wounding of John Scott at Providence. Abiah Carpenter was fined £20 for not serving on a jury. In 1682 he was elected deputy, and was on the grand jury December 13. 1687. He bought land of Joseph Carpenter (his brother-in-law ) of Mosquito Cove. November 30, 1668, and deeded the same back to Joseph in January, 1660. Joseph Carpenter had evi- dently tried to induce Abial to move to Mos- quito Cove, but Abiah declined to move, and after his sister Hannah's death he returned to Pawtuxet from Long Island. where he had been staying for a short time with Joseph. Abiah died before 1702. In 1699 Oliver, son of Abiah, sold land and the deed states that Abiah Carpenter was dead at that time. Chil- dren : Oliver, mentioned below: Joseph, mar- ried Mary Brown, March 18, 1702-3 : Hannah ; Rebecca ; Abiah, married Patience -; Solomon, born 1678, died 1750; Samuel ; Mary.

(XII) Oliver, son of Abiah Carpenter, was born at Pawtuxet, about 1670, and died in 1727. He lived at North Kingston, Rhode Island. He married Sarah He owned land in several towns, as shown by his will, and March 18, 1705, deeded to his brother Joseph, for love, six acres at Paw- tixet, which had been his father's land. On July 27. 1724, he deeded land to his son Christopher, of East Greenwich, and Novem- ber 23, 1724, he deeded land to his son Jolin of Warwick, 130 acres in East Greenwich. In 1727 he was administrator of his son Oliver's estate at East Greenwich, so his son Oliver probably died after his father's will was made. Oliver Carpenter's will was proved Novem- ber 20, 1727, and his wife Sarah was execu- trix, and his friend, Jeremiah Gould, overseer. Ile left fio to sons Oliver and Solomon; to son Abiah a legacy at age; to son Thomas a farm at East Greenwich, where William Sweet lived; to son Joshua f200 at age; and to the younger sons £200 each when they became of age : to daughter Sarah and a daughter ( naine not legible). £200 each, and £150 to another daughter. Sarah, widow of Oliver Carpenter, married (second) Robert Hall. Children, born in Rhode Island: Oliver, about 1605: William, June 19, 1701; Anne and Abigail, twins, October 2, 1705; Nathaniel. about 1707; Hannah, October 28, 1708. in South Kingston ; Thomas, about 1709; Jeremiah, 1716; Christopher, mentioned below : Benja- min, October 5, 1719, at East Greenwich; Joshua, January 14, 1722; John, about 1725, in Warwick; Abiah. not of age when his fa- ther died: Sarah, married John Reynolds: Robert ( Ezra Carpenter, of Kirkland. New York, states that Oliver had a son Robert ) ; Meribah, probably married Carr : Ed- mund : David.

(XIII) Christopher, son of Oliver Carpen- ter, was born about 1690-4. He probably mar- ried Mercy Taylor (or Roberts) in South Kingston, Rhode Island, and they lived in East Greenwich. In 1737 they went to Mary- land. He was a blacksmith. He built the first house on Carpenter farm, in West Green- wich, Rhode Island, which still remains in the family. Children: Jeremiah, born June 18, 1715, in North Kingston; Jonathan, Septem- ber 4, 1719; Robert, mentioned below ; Mercy. March 25, 1724. at East Greenwich : Williamn. April 5, 1727; Sarah, March 5, 1729 or 1730; Oliver : Nicholas, 1743; Christopher. about 1745 : Barbara, about 1746.

(XIV ) Robert, son of Christopher Carpen- ter, was born March 5, 1722, at East Green- wich. He enlisted as corporal in the Conti- nental army, in Captain Keith's company, Col-

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onel Michael Jackson's regiment, and served from April 24 to October 7, 1777. On Octo- ber 7, 1777, he was reported killed. Ile en- listed again in the Continental army, Captain Aaron Gray's company, Colonel Pyncheon's regiment. On February 9, 1778, he enlisted for three years.

Robert Carpenter married (first) Charity Robert., October 26, 1755, and second Mercy Children: Christopher, born 1750; John, mentioned below ; Phebe, November 27, 1760; Mercy, May 14, 1763; Ezra, August 10, 1769; Robert.

(XV) John, son of Robert Carpenter, was born in East Greenwich, February II, 1758. He married Sally Stone, and probably ( sec- ond) Charity -. Children : Charity, born December 27, 1779; Christopher, October 18, 1781; Phebe, July 1, 1784: Patience, Decem- ber 30, 1786; Robert, October 29, 1788; Cor- nell; Joseph; Polly; John; Amos, mentioned below.

(XVI) Amos, son of John Carpenter, was born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Au- gust 23, 1793. He had a common school edu- cation. He settled on a farm in the eastern part of Pomfret, now in Putnam, in 1837, at the time of the great business depression. He was a man of fine physique and skilled in three trades-shoemaking, carpentering and coopering. In West Greenwich, where he spent his early manhood, he followed these trades at various times. He married, June 19, 1813, Mary Bailey, born February 29, 1792, died August 3, 1855, daughter of Josephi Bailey, a soldier of the revolution, descendant of an old and honored Rhode Island family. He married (second ) in May, 1856, Eunice, sister of his first wife. She was born April 6, 1802, and died December 31, 1887. He died December 29. 1872. Children, born at West Greenwich: 1. Maria, March II, 1814; mar- ried Orrin Williams, born January 23, 1807, a descendant of Roger Williams. 2. Sarah C., February 16, 1816, died August 27, 1850. 3. Mercy Stone, born August 20, 1818; mar- ried March 7. 1843, Ezra Dresser, and died March 13, 1865. 4. Patience Sweet, May 29. 1821 ; married. March 7, 1843, Lucius E. Saw- yer, and died June 29, 1868. 5. Olive Bates, married (first) Sylvanus H. Lampson, who ' died September S. 1844; (second) October 25, 1855, Alden W. Williams, and she died Octo- ber 7, 1861. 6. George Washington, April 15, 1826; married (first) November 26, 1854, Sarah P. Underwood. who died January 26, 1873: (second) March 2, 1881, Mrs. Rebecca Allison Murphy. 7. John An- thony, mentioned below. 8. Charles B., Sep- tember 11, 1831 ; married, November 25, 1857,

Lydia Ann Hall. 9. Mary Elizabeth, April 20, 1857.

(XVII) Hon. John Anthony Carpenter, son of Amos Carpenter, was born at West Greenwich, June 23, 1828. He inherited from his father a vigorous constitution, at aptitude for many kinds of work, and capacity for hard and unremitting toil. During his boy- hood he assisted in the work of his father's farm, and attended the district school. He was a student in Wilbraham Academy for a short time, and in the winter of 1846 began to teach, and continued for twelve years with marked success. In 1857 he took charge of the counting room and stores of M. S. Morse & Company, where he was employed until July, 1866, when he became cashier of the First National Bank of Putnam, a position he held for nearly forty years. He had been active in organizing the bank and securing its charter, and the original records are in his handwriting. The bank opened for business March 24. 1864. He was one of the first board of nine directors and the last to survive. He became treasurer of the Putnam Savings Bank, October 1, 1866. It had been in opera- tion but a short time, and had less than S200,- ooo on deposit. Eight years later he resigned. because the law prohibited the cashier of a na- tional bank from holding the position of treas- urer of a savings bank having more than a million dollars on deposit, and was succeede i by Joseph Lippitt. Mr. Carpenter continued to be a trustee of the Savings Bank as long as he lived. In 1905, when his health was fail- ing, he declined reelection as cashier, and at the annual meeting in January, 1906, became vice-president, an office created in order to re- tain him in the service of the bank. His son. John F. Carpenter, succeeded him as cashier. Almost to the end of his life, Mr. Carpenter to superintend the work at his home, took daily drives, accompanied by his grandchil- dren, of whom he was a devoted an:1 beloved comrade. He was active and prominent in town affairs. In politics he was a Republican and always a zealous worker for his party. During the civil war he was chairman of the Repub- lican town committee. He was elected judge of probate for Putnam Probate District in August, 1863, and held that office for thirty- five years. Often he was nominated by both parties, and but one of his many decisions from which appeals were taken, was reversed by the superior court. He was the first war- den of the town fire district. and one of the first school visitors of the new town of Put- nam. He always favored progress and in !- provement in town affairs, schools and churches, and stood ready to do and pay his

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share. He was administrator or executor of many large estates, several involving amounts over a hundred thousand and one over a mil- lion dollars, without being required to fur- nish sureties on his bond. He had in the high- est degree the confidence and esteem of his townsmen.

After a final illness of less than two weeks, he died November 22, 1907. As a tribute to his memory all places of business of the city were closed during his funeral. The inter- ment. in accordance with his own wishes, was in the family burying ground on the old Car- penter place, in sight of the house which was endeared to him by the memories of his youth and of the happy years spent there with his children and grandchildren. It has been well said that he was a devoted husband, loving father, faithful friend and wise counselor. "He died full of years with the respect of all, and the affection of many who knew him, an upright man, of clean hands and a pure heart."

He married ( first) March 30, 1852, Ann Elizabeth Williams, died March 30. 1852, daughter of Byram Williams of Pomfret. Mr. Carpenter married (second) Marcia, daughter of Moses and Marcia ( Lillibridge ) Chandler. Children of first wife: I. Nancy Jeanette, born at Putnam, October 9. 1853 ; died March 26. 1854. 2. Byron Williams, born May 13, 1856, was for many years pro- prietor of a livery stable, now living in Som- erville, Massachusetts : married ( first ), Febru- ary 15, 1876. Maria Louisa Aldrich, who died July 5. 1884 : ( second) Mrs. Emma M. Good- speed, August 16, 1885. and she died May 22, 1800: married (third) Mary A. Moffitt, December 20. 1890. Children of second wife : 3. Jane Elizabeth, born March 10, 1866; mar- ried Edgar Maurice Warner, a lawyer, clerk of the superior court for Windham county, re- siding at Putnam; children: Frances Lester, July 19, 1888; Gertrude Chandler. April 16, 1890; John ., July 12, 1893. 4. John Fred- erick, mentioned below. 5. Anne Chandler, December 28. 1867; married, November 8, 1895, Chester Elisha Child.

(XVIII) General John Frederick Carpen- ter, son of John Anthony Carpenter, was born at Putnam, April 9, 1870. He attended the public schools of his native town and gradua- ted from the high school. He began to study his profession in the law school of Yale Uni- versity and was graduated with the degree of LL.B. m 1892. During the next five years he practiced law in Putnam and assisted his ia- ther, who was then cashier of the First Na- tional Bank. He succeeded his father as cash- ier, and filled that position until 1898, when he resigned to resume the practice of law.

Since then he has become an active and promi- nent attorney with offices at Putnam. He is vice-president of the First National Bank of Putnam. He is a member of Putnam Lodge of Free Masons, of Israel Putnam Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Putnam Lodge of Elks. In politics he is a Republican. He was elected in November, 1910, to the general assembly of Connecticut from the town of Putnam. He is corporation counsel of the city of Putnam, and prosecuting attorney of the city court of Putnam. He was engrossing elerk of the Connecticut legislature in 1895. and clerk of bills in 1897. He was appointed judge advo- cate general by Governor Cook in 1897, and bears the military rank of General. He has been a member of the Republican state cen- tral committee. He attends 'the Congrega- tional church of Putnam. His offices are at 28 Front Street, Putnam.

He married, December 27, 1803, Alice Maude Sharpe, born July 22, 1860, daughter of Dr. William H. Sharpe of Putnam. Chil- dren, born at Putnamn: Pauline S., born De- cember 10, 1894, died May 8, 1908; Alice Maude, born December 1, 1897; Mary, No- vember 29, 1901.

From a printer's apprentice

MALONEY to the editor and owner of one of the leading news- papers in the state of Connecticut, is the biography in a nutshell of Cornelius Maloney, whose controlling genius and sterling quali- ties of honesty and executive ability have placed the Waterbury Evening Democrat on a plane of its own in the world of news- paperdom.

Some fifty odd years ago there was born of poor and humble parents, in the city of New Britain, a boy who wa- destined in later years to become an active cog in the re- volving wheel of Connecticut business inter- ests. That rugged honesty which the father and mother had brought over with them from the little green isle seemed to be inherent in this lad. The parents, like many others. had drifted to those shores in search of a little home of their own, unhampered by any laws

except those which a free country could pro- vide. In those days there were no elaborate systems of education in Connecticut, and few were the chances that were accorded the boys and girls to advance themselves beyond a common school course. It was only natural then that at the early age of ten years Cor- nelius Maloney was apprenticed out to a job printing and newspaper firm in his native city. That was the first stepping stone into a business world in which he was later to play

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so prominent a part. The aptitude for the business soon became apparent to his em- plovers, and his advancement was correspond- ingly rapid. As the years rolled by he be- came one of that craft of printers who were educated in the old school. but who are still recognized for their ability and knowledge of the business, even though modern machinery has usurped many of the places they were wont to fill.

After years spent in the employment of the firm that first engaged him, he decided to enter the field himself, and soon New Britain was greeted with the first newspaper published by a native son. If that old hand press could speak. what a story it could tell of that first venture into the newspaper field? After some years of varied success the town of Bristol looked inviting, and there a plant was estab -. lished that proved most successful. .About this time his brother, Michael T. Maloney. became associated with him. and the firm of C. & M. T. Maloney became a name that was later to shine in the newspaper worl !. After some time spent in Bristol. the busy city of Waterbury bekl out her inviting arms and ex- pressed a desire that some hustling young Trish-American should break into the field and establish a newspaper. Thus 18dI found Cornelius Maloney and his brother Michael T. engaged in the herculean task of breaking into a field wherein they were practically unknown. The struggles of those first six years running their little weekly cannot be fully Jescribed. The determination to conquer was always foremost in their minds. and this, coupled with their rugged honesty and sterling char- acter. gradually forced them to the front, and their little weekly began to be recognized. In ISS; they began the first issue of the Daily Democrat, now recognized as one of the fac- tors in the newspaper field. But just in the heyday of their success, the junior partner, Michael T., was called away by that grim reaper Death. But the Democrat continued to live and thrive under the guiding hand of the senior member of the firm. Cornelius. and to-day it stands a monument to the mem- ory of the one that has gone. and a lasting eredit to the survivor. The principles inaugu- rated by the firm, of a square deal to every- body, have been carried out to the letter.

Cornelius Maloney was married up among the old Litchfield hills, some twenty odd years ago, to Miss Mary E. Quigley, and in their very happy home to-day two sons and three daughters, some of them grown to manhood and womanhood, are the bright jewels for which the early newspaper struggles are now forgotten.

Mr. Maloney has been honored. too by his. townsinen, for when labor sought a candi- date to compete for the house of representa- tives, they flocked to the standard of the Dem- vcratic ticket on which he had been nomi- nated, and elected him. . As a fraternity man he was most conspicuous, for the Knights of Columbus placed him in the chair for the first grand knight, and other fraternal orders have honored him as well. He has accom- plished a wonderful task to rise from the poor apprentice boy to the ownership of one of the leading newspapers in the state of Connecticut. and all through the strict atten- tion to business and the honest dealings he has had with his fellow men.

MILLS Sir Peter Wouters Van der Men- len, of Amsterdam, Holland, was knighted for distinguished sery- ices in the improvement of dykes and canals in his native land.

Peter Van Meulen, eldest son of Sir Peter Wouters Van der Meulen, was born in Hol- land. died April 12, 1710. In 1622 he came to America from Leyden, where he was study - ing for the ministry at the University. About 1650 he joined the refugees who came for the sake of religious freedom from England and thus aroused the displeasure of his father. who disinherited him. In the Colonial Kre- ords of Connecticut. it is stated that his name was changed to the English form of Peter Mills by his own request, Van der Meulen IN- ing in Dutch the "Man of the Mill." He had a lot of land at Haddam, Connecticut. before November 30, 1669. It is not known that he ever lived at Haddam, but that town voted March 13, 1670, the lot that was "Poter Millse's" to Thomas Schailler. Mills was called "the Doucheman" ( Dutchman) ( Had- dam records, first book ). He was a taller by trade, and is frequently mentioned in the manuscript of Rev. Timothy Edwards. of East Windsor. Mills settled at Windsor. He mar- ried ( first) Dorcas Mersinger, of Wind-or. Connecticut, born September 23. 1650, died August 18, 1688. He married (second) De- cember 10, 1601. Jane Warren, of Hartford. Children: Peter, Return, Dorcas, Ebenezer, born February 8, 1687-88.

Peter (2), son of Peter ( 1 ) Mills, settled in Wintonbury. Connecticut. He married, July 24. 1692, Toanna Porter. born at Hatfield. Massachusetts, February 16. IGen-Ft, died in 1751. Children : Captain Peletiah, born April 27. 1693: Gideon. February 3. 1604: Rev. Jedediah, mentioned below : Peter. April IS. 1701 ; Ann, 1702; Daniel, May 22, 1706: Iohin. February 14. 1707-08, Rev. Ebenezer, 1710.

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